WEBVTT 00:00:10.392 --> 00:00:15.650 The majority of life on the planet is based in a food chain which revolves around sunlight. 00:00:18.666 --> 00:00:23.700 But of course in the deep sea, there is no light. Once you go below 200 meters, light just disappears. 00:00:25.725 --> 00:00:27.810 That means there are no plants down in the deep ocean. 00:00:28.587 --> 00:00:32.200 So there is a food chain that operates completely independently. 00:00:32.968 --> 00:00:38.090 Instead of having sunlight being used as the primary form of energy, chemical energy is used. 00:00:39.192 --> 00:00:45.260 And that is from these chemical-rich fluids, such as methane and also hydrogen sulfide, 00:00:45.460 --> 00:00:51.270 that leak out of the seafloor from fissures that have been formed by tectonic activity. 00:00:53.631 --> 00:00:57.880 And instead of there being plants, there are bacteria which act as the primary producers, 00:00:58.080 --> 00:01:04.270 and they utilize this chemical energy in a process known as chemosynthesis rather than photosynthesis, 00:01:04.470 --> 00:01:05.910 which is pretty amazing. 00:01:07.886 --> 00:01:11.150 So in geologically active areas such as the Gulf of Mexico 00:01:11.350 --> 00:01:17.350 the hydrogen-rich fluid and gas can result in a number of unique and rare environments 00:01:17.550 --> 00:01:26.120 that can range from a small patch of blackened reduced sediment to cold seeps with extensive mussel beds. 00:01:28.322 --> 00:01:31.860 Once you see a cold seep, it's just booming with animals. 00:01:32.060 --> 00:01:35.350 There are thousands upon thousands of animals in some cases. 00:01:36.046 --> 00:01:39.820 And that's because they've got a really plentiful energy source. 00:01:40.020 --> 00:01:42.940 So those hydrocarbons seep out of the seafloor. 00:01:43.140 --> 00:01:48.060 The bacteria then use them and that bacteria, which is constantly being replaced once it's eaten. 00:01:51.292 --> 00:01:58.180 We've also located brine pools, which is where extremely dense and salty brine seeps out of the seafloor 00:01:58.380 --> 00:02:01.610 and forms a lake at the bottom of the ocean, which is just amazing. 00:02:02.611 --> 00:02:09.180 And additionally, we've seen asphalt seeps, where liquid asphalt was seen leaking from the seafloor as droplets. 00:02:16.026 --> 00:02:22.780 So in the Gulf of Mexico, seep communities tend to be dominated by tubeworms and also mussels, 00:02:22.980 --> 00:02:26.400 which are endemic to chemosynthetic habitats. 00:02:26.999 --> 00:02:28.660 They are foundation species. 00:02:28.860 --> 00:02:32.240 And that means that they are species that create habitat for other species. 00:02:34.141 --> 00:02:44.690 And those tinier species that can be found include shrimp, chitins, eelpout fish, squat lobsters, limpets, snails -- 00:02:44.890 --> 00:02:45.990 the list goes on. 00:02:48.155 --> 00:02:53.540 These species live here because they can find easy sources of food. They can find shelter. 00:02:53.740 --> 00:02:56.700 And they can also find hard substrate to attach to. 00:02:57.764 --> 00:03:02.680 And additionally, you can also find larger predators drifting in opportunistically, 00:03:02.880 --> 00:03:09.710 such as large crabs, octopus, fish, and so on, that come in to have a quick meal and then go on their way. 00:03:12.722 --> 00:03:22.440 Further afield from these areas of seepage, there can be hard substrates in the form of asphalt concretions or authegenic carbonates. 00:03:22.640 --> 00:03:28.920 And in those areas, we can find corals and other suspension feeding animals using the hard substrate to anchor to 00:03:29.120 --> 00:03:31.660 but also to get them up into the water column. 00:03:36.219 --> 00:03:41.100 So we're exploring for chemosynthetic habitats for a number of reasons. 00:03:41.844 --> 00:03:44.820 First of all, they are insanely cool and why would you not? 00:03:46.359 --> 00:03:49.830 Secondly, they provide us with many ecological services, 00:03:50.030 --> 00:03:51.900 which a lot of people don't actually realize. 00:03:52.945 --> 00:03:57.270 They likely have a role in nutrient cycling in our world's oceans. 00:03:57.973 --> 00:03:59.680 They enhance fisheries. 00:04:00.425 --> 00:04:06.370 And of course collecting this kind of critical baseline information about these vulnerable habitats 00:04:06.570 --> 00:04:10.580 will allow more effective management of the Gulf of Mexico deep seafloor. 00:04:12.896 --> 00:04:19.630 And lastly, they inspire people. They provide us with a sense of awe, and that's something that really shouldn't be underestimated.